Stories for 2008

Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Lula da Silva praises strength and speed of regional integration

South American integration is “advancing fast and with our own resources” said Brazilian president Lula da Silva on Friday during a regional summit in Amazonia with the presidents of Bolivia and Venezuela
Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Spain supports re-Argentinization of Aerolíneas & Austral

Spanish vice president Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega described on Friday the agreement by which Argentina regains control of flag air carrier Aerolineas Argentinas as “satisfactory”.
Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Mrs. Kirchner cancels export tax; farmers' conflict “is over”

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner administration canceled the widely protested farm export tax hike on Friday following four long months of protest and a stunning rejection by the Senate. First reactions from farmers was that the “conflict is over”.
Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
The Economist warns of 3 years of lame-duck presidency

Under the heading of “Losing friends fast” The Economist refers to the milestone last 48 hours in Argentina and concludes that if President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner does not learn fast from her mistakes, “she may go down as one of the longest-serving lame ducks in recent democratic history”.
Thursday, July 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Mercosur and EU planning post-Doha trade negotiations

Mercosur and the European Union could resume trade talks in two months time because “we're interested in having an open discussion next September or October” according to the EU commissioner for Latinamerica Stefano Saninno who this week visited Buenos Aires.
Thursday, July 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Uruguay, 2007 Latam tourism receipts growth champ

Panama continues to be the fastest-growing tourism market in Latin America, but Uruguay is the winner when it comes to growth in receipts. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic is the country with the region's highest receipts as a percentage of GDP, according to a Latin Business Chronicle analysis of new data from the World Tourism Organization.
Thursday, July 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentine Senate knocks out Kirchners farm export tax

After a dramatic 18hrs session senators tied 36 to 36 in two votes on the measure. Julio Cobos, the vice-president voted against the proposal, breaking the tie. The bill was approved by the lower house of Congress on July 5.
Thursday, July 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Promising discovery of diamonds in north-east Paraguay

Ten diamonds ranging in size from 0.002 to 0.04 carats have been discovered in the north east of landlocked Paraguay, reported Latin American Minerals Inc., a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of properties of highly prospective countries of the region.
Thursday, July 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil and Colombia agree to joint Amazon border surveillance

A defense agreement to share military information, technology, training, intelligence, weapons procurement and joint exercises will be signed this weekend between Brazil and Colombia when President Lula da Silva arrives for two-day talks with his counterpart Alvaro Uribe.
Thursday, July 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentine government takes over Aerolineas

Argentina announced Thursday it had reached an agreement with the Spanish group Marsans for the transfer of the country's main airline Aerolíenas Argentinas and its subsidiary Austral to the Argentine state.